Oolong

About Oolong Tea

There are many folktales regarding the origin of Oolong tea. One of the more common ones tells the story of a sickly man. As he slept, he dreamt of a plant that would cure his ails. Upon waking he went into the mountains in search of the plant. High in the mountains he found the plant of his dreams. He collected some leaves and branches and as he was doing so he noticed a large black snake perched on a branch in an overhanging tree. At home he cooked the leaves in boiling water and after drinking the brew, his sickness left him. When he thought of what to call the plant, he remembered the black snake perched high in the branches, and he decided to give the plant the name Oolong. “Oo” means dark/black and “long” means dragon/snake.